Stone Barrington Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading Stone Barrington?

If you are new to the series, the absolute best starting point is New York Dead (1991). This debut novel introduces Stone Barrington just as he is forced out of the NYPD and transitions into his role as a discrete, high-society lawyer for a prestigious Manhattan law firm. Starting here allows you to fully appreciate Stone's personal evolution, his signature relationships, and the recurring cast of characters that populate his universe.

While individual books are engineered as fast-paced, episodic mysteries that can technically be enjoyed as standalones, reading them out of order will spoil significant character developments. Stone's romantic interests, his wealth, his family ties, and his long-running partnership with NYPD partner Dino Bacchetti evolve chronologically across the books. Sticking to the publication sequence ensures you won't get lost or have major plot points ruined.

The Stone Barrington Publication Order

Stuart Woods was famously prolific, frequently releasing up to three books a year. Following his passing in 2022, acclaimed thriller writer Brett Battles stepped in to continue the legacy, co-authoring the transitional entries and taking the helm for the newest novels. Below is the complete publication order of the Stone Barrington novels:

1. New York Dead (1991)
2. Dirt (1996)
3. Dead in the Water (1997)
4. Swimming to Catalina (1998)
5. Worst Fears Realized (1999)
6. L.A. Dead (2000)
7. Cold Paradise (2001)
8. The Short Forever (2002)
9. Dirty Work (2003)
10. Reckless Abandon (2004)
11. Two Dollar Bill (2004)
12. Dark Harbor (2006)
13. Fresh Disasters (2007)
14. Shoot Him If He Runs (2007)
15. Hot Mahogany (2008)
16. Loitering with Intent (2009)
17. Kisser (2009)
18. Lucid Intervals (2010)
19. Strategic Moves (2010)
20. Bel-Air Dead (2011)
21. Son of Stone (2011)
22. D.C. Dead (2011)
23. Unnatural Acts (2012)
24. Severe Clear (2012)
25. Collateral Damage (2012)
26. Unintended Consequences (2013)
27. Doing Hard Time (2013)
28. Standup Guy (2014)
29. Carnal Curiosity (2014)
30. Cut and Thrust (2014)
31. Paris Match (2014)
32. Insatiable Appetites (2015)
33. Hot Pursuit (2015)
34. Naked Greed (2015)
35. Foreign Affairs (2015)
36. Scandalous Behavior (2016)
37. Family Jewels (2016)
38. Dishonorable Intentions (2016)
39. Sex, Lies & Serious Money (2016)
40. Below the Belt (2017)
41. Fast and Loose (2017)
42. Indecent Exposure (2017)
43. Quick & Dirty (2017)
44. Unbound (2018)
45. Shoot First (2018)
46. Turbulence (2018)
47. Desperate Measures (2018)
48. A Delicate Touch (2018)
49. Wild Card (2019)
50. Contraband (2019)
51. Stealth (2019)
52. Treason (2020)
53. Hit List (2020)
54. Choppy Water (2020)
55. Shakeup (2020)
56. Hush-Hush (2020)
57. Double Jeopardy (2021)
58. Class Act (2021)
59. Foul Play (2021)
60. Criminal Mischief (2021)
61. A Safe House (2022)
62. Black Dog (2022)
63. Distant Thunder (2022)
64. Near Miss (2023) - Co-authored with Brett Battles
65. Smolder (2024) - Written by Brett Battles
66. Finders Keepers (2026) - Written by Brett Battles
67. Deep Water (2026) - Written by Brett Battles
68. Hostile Intent (Expected November 2026) - Written by Brett Battles

Understanding the "Barrington Universe" Crossovers

One of the joys of reading Stuart Woods is discovering the highly interconnected web of recurring characters across his multiple book series. If you plan to read his other works, knowing how they cross paths with Stone Barrington will keep your timeline straight:

• Holly Barker: The former military officer and police chief first appears in her own series starting with Orchid Beach (1998). She later crosses over to become a major character and recurring romantic interest in the Stone Barrington novels.
• Teddy Fay: The elusive, rogue ex-CIA agent makes his initial appearances causing trouble for Stone Barrington before spinning off into his own series starting with Smooth Operator (2016).
• Will Lee: The politician protagonist of Woods' first series (beginning with Chiefs in 1981) eventually rises to become the President of the United States in the shared universe, frequently referenced by Stone.
• Ed Eagle: The Santa Fe defense attorney (starting with Santa Fe Rules in 1992) shares overlapping legal circles with Stone, occasionally leading to cross-country collaborations.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

For the main Stone Barrington series, the publication order matches the chronological timeline perfectly. However, the wider "Barrington Universe" contains a few timeline variations. For example, the Rick Barron historical mystery novels (like The Prince of Beverly Hills) are set in the 1930s and 1940s, serving as a distant prequel to the modern timeline. Similarly, the early Will Lee books take place decades before Stone's first case. Despite these shifts, fans strongly recommend reading the books in publication order. This prevents spoilers for major character developments and allows you to enjoy the cameo appearances exactly as the author intended.

The Authorship Transition: Carrying the Torch

Stuart Woods passed away in 2022, leaving behind a legendary catalog. To ensure Stone Barrington's adventures continued, the publisher brought in bestselling thriller author Brett Battles. Battles first collaborated on the final phases of Near Miss (2023), before taking full authorship starting with Smolder (2024). Battles has successfully maintained Woods' trademark snappy dialogue, brisk pacing, and luxurious escapism, keeping the series vibrant for long-term fans.